Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Priceless

I have a copy of the letter acclaimed Ward 4 Public School Trustee Dan Danielson distributed during the election that, in essence, panned incumbent Myles Heidt for not getting the Board cheap land in Hampton Village. He states that the reason Hampton Village does not have a school is due to the increased cost of land over the last three years which according to him is all due to Heidt. Bunk!

Don't we all wish we could buy property at prices prior to the boom. If the school board wanted the land it could have exercised its option three years ago at the old price. It didn't. Three years ago the school division still had declining school enrollment and the possibility of school closures was more in the forefront. What is the role of a school trustee if not to do forward planning? If it now becomes the role of a councillor to plan and budget for schools, why do we need trustees?

In his letter he states: "Our councillor has refused to support our requests." Who's the "our"? Is he speaking for the Board?

It is well known in local political circles that there is "bad blood" between these two and I think it shameful that Danielson would use his position with the Board for his personal vendetta. Thank the provincial government for taking access to the tax base away from boards who seem to deal with "wants" rather than "needs."

If not the land, the letter itself is priceless.

11 comments:

  1. It is really too bad you can't post the letter for all of us to see for ourselves. I know you wouldn't want to be exposed to a republication suit, but this doesn't surprise me one bit. His true stripe has shown. My only hope is that the School Board makes a statement distancing themselves from his comments. Could this be grounds for getting him tossed off the board?

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  2. The "our" means "my" as Danielson has only been out for one person himself. It is a total disgrace that no one ran against him - so the ward gets what they get and this is one very self-serving trustee.

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  3. Where was this letter distributed? Does Heidt have the ability to sue for slander?

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  4. I have been advised the letter was distributed in Hampton Village prior to the election.

    I do understand that Heidt has consulted with a lawyer.

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  5. I don't always agree with Miles, but for anyone to say he has underrepresented his Ward is absurd, Sean Shaw seemed like a nice young man when he was campainging at the door and I would hope he was not pleased with this letter. Daneilson should be at least brought to task by the other trustees for casting all in a bad light.

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  6. The reality is that the popluation in Hampton doesnt yet justify a school and this project is not yet on the Board's radar. To suggest that Heidt and by extention, Council is raising the price of land to cover its overexpenditures downtown is absurd. It is the administration that establishes the prices of land which values are consitenet with the market. Danielson needs to be taken to task on this. Where do I contribute to Myles' legal fund?

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  7. Does anyone know who Myle's has hired as a lawyer. I will send a cheque to his lawyer directly.

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  8. I'll try calling Heidt to see if he wants donations and let you know.

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  9. Maybe this is the type of thing that got Dan kicked from the chair of the school board. This is certainly not the type of person I want as an example for my kids. I will be looking at the actions of the rest of the trustees to see if they condone his actions. One would have thought when given they opportunity he would have the gonads to retract his statements but it appears with his latest stance (SP Tuesday Nov3) he is willing to continue to spew his venomous thoughts. The Children of our division deserve better.

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  10. Acting as a conduit for funding a legal battle between two elected officials?

    This blog is ridiculous and pathetic - it's not a place for discourse on local politics... it's simply a sad, sad affair.

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  11. I'm amazed Sean Shaw even allowed Dan Danielson the ability to handle his election materials for a simple campaign drop-off. Sadly, sometimes great candidates like Shaw attract some poor individuals like Danielson.

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